Staff Bioinformatics Scientist

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity?

At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients.

Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

We are seeking a bioinformatics scientist to join our Bioinformatics organization to develop image analysis solutions for Illumina's spatial genomics platform. You'll work on analyzing gigabyte-scale tissue images in near real-time to reveal how genes are expressed spatially. Working with interdisciplinary teams of lab scientists, bioinformatics scientists, and software engineers, you'll build algorithms that transform complex imaging data into actionable biological insights.

Responsibilities

• Partner with lab scientists and bioinformatics scientists to translate biological requirements into effective computational solutions
• Design and implement image processing algorithms that balance accuracy with speed, using both novel approaches and established methods
• Define quality standards for spatial genomics by creating metrics that detect and correct for imaging artifacts, ensuring reproducible results across different instruments and tissue types
• Develop efficient Python cross platform backend software that processes gigabyte-scale images, enabling near real-time analysis within experimental workflows

Education:

• Bachelor degree or higher in computer science, mathematics, data science, bioinformatics or related field
• 6+ years developing image analysis software (PhD can substitute for experience)

Required Skills & Experience

• Image Analysis Expertise: Proven experience with large-scale image processing and computer vision (registration, stitching, segmentation, compression, object detection and distortion correction) of microscopy images. Track record of optimizing algorithms for performance and memory efficiency.
• Extensive experience with Python, including memory management.
• Proficiency with key image processing and machine learning libraries such as NumPy, OpenCV, scikit-image, TensorFlow, etc.
• Familiarity with Python packaging and deployment tools (e.g., conda, wheel, PyInstaller).
• Problem-Solving Approach: Ability to navigate ambiguous problems at the intersection of biology and computation, prototype solutions quickly, and iterate based on validation.
• Communication Skills: Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and communicate technical concepts across disciplines.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• PhD with research focus on biomedical image analysis or computer vision
• Experience with high-throughput microscopy, slide scanners, or digital pathology workflows
• Exposure to GPU programming and cloud computing for image processing acceleration
• Background in spatial biology, single-cell genomics, or next-generation sequencing (NGS)
• Familiarity with cloud computing concepts and desktop application development

We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact [email protected]. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants.